The American president received the Saudi crown prince with royal honors. The focus of the visit: the sale of F-35 aircraft, normalization of relations with Israel, and huge investments by Saudi Arabia in the United States. Trump confirmed that Riyadh would receive the advanced fighter jets:"It's a great ally, Israel will be happy." When bin Salman was asked about the Abraham Accords, he noted that Riyadh is interested in ensuring that a Palestinian state is established. Trump defended bin Salman, who is visiting the United States for the first time since the murder of Khashoggi in 2018:"He didn't know about it, he's amazing at human rights"
Ynet and the agencies|
Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House this evening (Tuesday), for a visit that is of interest to Israel – following Trump's willingness to sell Saudi Arabia F-35 jets, and the assessment that he will pressure bin Salman to join the"Abraham Accords" and normalize relations with Israel.
A red carpet was rolled out in honor of the Saudi Crown Prince, who shook the US President's hand. The two then looked up at the sky as fighter jets, likely F-35s, participated in a flyover to mark bin Salman's arrival. After the reception and tour of the White House, the leaders continued to the Oval Office.
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Trump and bin Salman tonight in the Oval Office (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
After the reception, in a statement in the Oval Office, Trump complimented bin Salman and said that the two have been friends for a long time."I'm very proud of the work he's done, it's amazing what he's doing on human rights." Bin Salman is visiting the US for the first time since 2018 - the year in which he was accused by American intelligence of responsibility for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who opposed his regime. Trump was asked this evening about the murder of Khashoggi, and defended bin Salman, saying that the crown prince did not know about the intention to kill him.
The American president even claimed that Khashoggi was an"extraordinarily controversial" figure, and summed up his murder with the words:"Things happen." In the Oval Office, bin Salman praised Trump's contribution"to world peace," and announced that Saudi investments in the United States in the coming years - which were supposed to be $600 billion - would increase to a trillion dollars.
Trump confirmed to reporters that Saudi Arabia will receive F-35 aircraft - the same model as the one Israel received - and said that Saudi Arabia is "a great ally, like Israel." He said that Israel would be "very happy" about the deal to sell the F-35 to Saudi Arabia. The deal to sell the stealth aircraft, we will recall, is of great concern to Israel because it would end Israel's qualitative advantage in the skies of the Middle East.
Bin Salman also came to Washington to reach an agreement with the US on granting security guarantees, and this evening Trump announced in the Oval Office that the US had reached a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia. Referring to a possible addition to the Abraham Accords, bin Salman said that Saudi Arabia is interested in joining the agreements, but also"wants to ensure a path to a Palestinian state" and is interested in a two-state solution, and peace"for Israel and the Palestinians."
Fighter jets in a parade in honor of the Saudi Crown Prince (Photo: AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The handshake between the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United States (Photo: AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
(Photo: AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
(Photo: AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
(Photo: AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
(Photo: AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
As stated, this is bin Salman's first visit to the US since 2018 – the year in which Saudi journalist and regime dissident Jamal Khashoggi was murdered. He was murdered by Saudi agents after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. American intelligence later determined that bin Salman ordered the attack, and Khashoggi's murder sparked global shock and anger at the Saudi crown prince.
Bin Salman denied ordering Khashoggi's assassination, but acknowledged that he was responsible as the de facto ruler of the kingdom. The grand welcome he received at the White House is one of the signs of the restoration of relations between Washington and Riyadh after Khashoggi's murder.
(Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP)
(Photo: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
(Photo: AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
(Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)
(Photo: Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
(Photo: Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
Bin Salman's visit is intended to deepen security and economic cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Last night, Trump put an end to speculation and confirmed that he intends to approve the huge deal in which Saudi Arabia will receive F-35 aircraft."They've been great allies," the US president said of the Saudis in a conversation with reporters in the Oval Office, when asked if he would approve the sale."They must love us very much. Look at the situation in Iran, we destroyed their nuclear capability. Yes, I say we will do it."
Last week, Trump said that the Saudis"want to buy a lot" of planes, and noted that he was considering the issue. According to reports, Saudi Arabia has asked the Americans to purchase 48 F-35 aircraft. In addition, the American president reiterated his hope that the Saudis will join the"Abraham Accords" and normalize relations with Israel.
In addition to the sale of advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia – a sale that would end Israel's qualitative advantage in the skies of the Middle East – other deals are on the agenda: A senior White House official told Reuters that during the visit, the parties are expected to announce deals in the fields of security, manufacturing and technology.
Trump and bin Salman at the White House in 2018, during the Saudi Crown Prince's last visit to the US (Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo)
Trump and bin Salman in Saudi Arabia last May (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Trump aims to fulfill Saudi Arabia's commitment to invest $600 billion in the United States in the coming years - as agreed during Trump's visit to the kingdom in May."The Saudis will spend a large amount of money on the United States tomorrow," the senior White House official told Reuters yesterday. Referring to Trump's desire to include Saudi Arabia in the Abraham Accords, the official said:"It is very important to him that they join the Abraham Accords during his term, and that is why he has increased the pressure on the issue."
For his part, bin Salman is interested in US security guarantees in light of the events in the Middle East, and also wants to gain access to artificial intelligence technology, and promote an agreement on a civilian nuclear program. Regarding the latter issue, Reuters reported that the US and Saudi Arabia are expected to announce cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear energy today.
Today it was announced that during bin Salman's visit he will also arrive at the White House
